The Roger Dubuis brand takes us on a journey back in time with its latest watch model – back to 17th century Japan, to be exact.
The Swiss watch manufacturer has just launched a limited edition masterpiece, fully blending haute horlogerie with cultural symbols and artistic quintessence of 17th century Japan.
Masterpiece Excalibur Kabuto Legacy The 45 mm size is specifically inspired by samurai warriors, highlighting the extremely detailed engraved images of 12 generals located at each hour mark.
Choosing to place each samurai general (also known as bushō) at the hour mark positions is not a coincidence (besides the role of displaying the time). During the 17th century, Japan went through a period of historical upheaval when it was divided by war lords vying for power; Afterwards, three outstanding leaders joined forces to unify the bushō, bringing peace and a new order to the country. That spirit of solidarity is fully recreated through the circular arrangement of generals on the dial.
In unified Japan, each bushō represented by the ceremonial helmet kabuto – the symbol represents their clan and philosophy of life through each typical design style. This concept continues to be conveyed into the car Excalibur Kabuto Legacy thanks to the tradition of master craftsmanship (Métiers d’art), and each samurai general depicted through the hat kabuto Sculpted in 18-karat rose gold. Each of these handmade details takes two to three days of meticulous work by artisans.
Một số vị lãnh đạo xuất hiện trên mặt số có thể kể đến như Tokugawa Ieyasu – vị Shōgun kiệt xuất và là một trong những "bộ óc" kiến tạo nên kỷ nguyên mới của Nhật Bản – đặt tại vị trí 12 giờ. Chiếc mũ kabuto His image carries the image of a fern leaf, representing longevity and success. Accompanying him at the 1 o’clock position is Honda Tadakatsu, a general famous for his loyalty to the car kabuto decorated with deer horns, symbol of divine protection; Sakai Tadatsugu at the next hour mark, a politician famous for his wisdom and understanding of the battlefield and his kabuto engraved with the image of a sword, meaning to eliminate evil spirits and symbolize righteousness; and Sakakibara Yasumasa, who was famous for his clear judgment kabuto dotted with swords, honoring the strong spirit of martial arts and the soul of the samurai.
Of course, that’s not all Roger Dubuis put into this new time machine. The center of the dial displays an abstract artistic rendering of Edo Castle, which was the seat of the Tokugawa family for more than 260 years. The multi-storey tower has been re-crafted with a deep blue coating, paying tribute to the traditional dye used by samurai warriors.
Turn over the back of the watch, each crest (kamon) of the samurai is delicately laser engraved on a blue-coated rose gold ring. Some prominent family crest motifs include the trachoma tree, the genko wheel, and the motifs of bamboo and sparrows.
Underneath all those exquisite details is the RD821 movement. This automatic movement gives Roger Dubuis free creative space on a complex design, providing a 60-hour power reserve and a 4 Hz vibration frequency. The movement also features 14 distinct hand-finished techniques, an element that has helped it achieve one of the watch industry’s most rigorous certifications: the quality seal. Poinçon de Genève. Meanwhile, the rose gold case of the watch is perfectly combined with a blue calf leather strap, with hyphenated stitching that simulates the traditional armor of samurai warriors.
To ensure absolute historical accuracy for the time machine, Roger Dubuis collaborated with Professor Frederik Cryns, a Japanese history expert and consultant for the hit TV series. Shogun.
A piece of history with such a unique combination of value will certainly be very difficult to own. Roger Dubuis only limited production to 28 pieces Excalibur Kabuto Legacy worldwide.
Lesson: Navigator Media
